Government

Bristol consults householders on four-weekly residual waste collections

Bristol becomes first large city to formally consider reduced frequency of black bin collections with potential saving of £2.3 million per annum.

Bristol recycling vehicle and truckBristol City Council has opened a consultation on potential changes to waste collections, proposing to reduce black bin collections to either every three or four weeks while maintaining weekly recycling services.

The six-week consultation, running until 10 March 2025, also suggests weekly food waste collection, weekly recycling collections, increased recycling capacity, and supporting education campaigns.

Green Party Councillor Martin Fodor, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, described how the proposed changes could improve recycling rates: “Collecting black bin waste once every three or four weeks instead of two will increase the amount of waste our city recycles, reduce costs and significantly lower carbon emissions.”

The Council’s analysis has suggested that these changes to collection frequency could stop between 7,000 and 10,000 tonnes of waste going to landfill or incineration.

Proposed options

The consultation presents three main options for transforming the city’s waste management system.

Under Option One, black bin collections would move to a four-weekly schedule, projected to boost recycling rates by 10 per cent and reduce carbon emissions from waste collection and treatment by 60 per cent. The council estimates this would save approximately £2.3 million and avoid nearly £1.5 million in future carbon tax costs.

Option Two proposes three-weekly black bin collections, expected to increase recycling rates by six per cent and cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent. This option would deliver estimated savings of £1.3 million and avoid around £1 million in future carbon costs.

The final possibility, Option Three, describes no changes to the services, which would see no reduction in costs, and the potential need to reduce services.

Cllr Fodor explained that the changes to waste collection are not the only strategy to increase recycling: “We recognise however that taking this approach is not in itself going to achieve all of our aims and must be accompanied by other measures to support our city to recycle more.”

Both options include new presentation options for recycling, which include increasing the use of recycling sacks for card and paper, and plastic and cans respectively instead of boxes. Alternatively, one larger capacity wheeled bin or three separate wheeled bins for card and paper, plastics and cans, and glass is suggested. The aim of these changes is to increase the volume of material that people can recycle.

The consultation explores ways to make recycling more accessible for residents, asking questions about items that are currently difficult to recycle, how soft plastics are being managed, and which education campaigns the council should prioritise.

It also seeks feedback on the support needed if collection frequencies change, including assistance with nappy waste, adult hygiene product waste, and pet waste.

Recycling challenges

Bristol’s recycling rate has plateaued around 45 per cent, despite being England’s top recycling city since 2014. The proposed changes hope to increase this rate to meet the national target of 65 per cent by 2035.

According to the council, waste composition analysis of the residual bin indicates at least a third of material is recyclable with existing services. A quarter of black bin contents is food waste, with a further 15 per cent consisting of recyclable materials including paper, card, glass, plastic, cans, textiles, and small electrical items.

Cllr Fodor explained the challenges councils are facing: “The reasons why we need to be recycling more are twofold. Firstly, because sending more of our household waste to landfill or for incineration has serious negative consequences for the environment, and secondly, doing so will very soon start to cost every household a lot more unless we do something about it.”

David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy brand, Reconomy Connect, added: "With councils across the country facing financial pressures, many are looking to explore alternative waste management systems to tackle the growing costs of waste being sent for incineration or landfill, and to improve recycling rates.

"Over the last few years, recycling rates in England have plateaued, with some actually going backwards. We believe this is largely due to the lack of a uniform national approach to recycling which has caused confusion about what can be recycled. However, Simpler Recycling legislation, coming into effect in April 2026 for local authorities, aims to eliminate this confusion and lift rates by standardising practices across the country."

The council currently spends over £44 million annually on waste, recycling, and street cleansing services, with waste treatment costs alone reaching £14 million per year. Without intervention, these costs are projected to rise by £8 million annually due to new carbon taxes and increasing operational expenses.

These proposed changes will not apply to flats with communal collections or mini-recycling centres.